Resilient shoe tree



' March 21, 1961 J, J DREW 2,975,444

RESILIENT SHOE TREE Filed Jan. 31, 1958 6 5ml Cl DEEM INVENTOR.

- entirely different.

United. States RESILIENT SHOE TREE John J. Drew, 6023 Elm Ave., Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Jan. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 712,359

2 Claims. (Cl. 12-128) This invention relates to improvements in shoe accessories, and has particular reference to an expanding shoe tree which elastically supports a shoe.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a shoe accessory that is easily portable, simple to use, inexpensive to produce, and one that may be removably disposed in the portion of a shoe forwardly of the instep thereof to maintain same in substantially the shape and configuration that it initially had when new.

Another object of the invention is to providea shoe tree which when disposed within a shoe may be transversely expanded to place the desired degree of pressure on the inner surface portion of the shoe, but with the pressure-exerting means being so constructed that it is impossible to apply forces to the shoe of sufiicient magnitude to in any way damage same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention appear in connection with the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the manner in which the invention is fitted within a shoe;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified shoe supp Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second modification of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3; and,

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

There are many presently available shoe supporting devices. Usually they are made of wood, aluminum or some plastic material and are sustained in the shoe by various expanding means. These devices are satisfactory in the sense that they support and maintain the shape and form of the shoe, but they accomplish the intended purpose by the application of extremely vigorous pressure to the shoe leather and sewn portions thereof. They all operate substantially the same and they are all shoe supports and stilfeners. They stretch the leather and seams to support the shoe and maintain same in that position.

The present invention contemplates no such stringent supporting action, and as a matter of fact, the theory is It is intended here, not to hold the shoe in an inflexible manner, but rather to apply an elastic support of sufficient force to hold the original shape of the shoe and at the same time maintain at the most, a moderate tension on the leather and sewn portions.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elastic body 10 (Figures 2 and 3) which is constructed to substantially conform with the interior of the shoe S and be slidably insertable within the confines thereof, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. Body 10 has a flat, sole-contacting bottom 11, curved sides 12, and an upper surface 13 that tapers slightly toward the toe portion 14. As shown in Figure 1, the elastic body 10 is disposed forwardly of the shoe instep. Body 10 is resilient and may be formed of any material having substantially the same physical characteristics as molded sponge rubber. Obviously, molded sponge rubber offers an ideal material for this device because it is light in weight and easily molded to the desired degree of elasticity. It is also attractive in appearance, and can be furnished in various colors. Should it be desired, the body It] may be coated with a film of a moisture impervious paint or lacquer to prevent absorption by the sponge rubber of perspiration and moisture from the leather defining the shoe in which the invention is disposed.

Although body 10 is fashioned to be inserted into a shoe under slight elastic pressure in order to secure it in proper position, an additional manually operable mechanism is provided for longitudinally compressing the elastic body with concurrent transverse expansion thereof to force it against the interior surfaces of the shoe. A compression rod 15 (Figure 3) extends lengthwise through body 10, and on the exterior toe end 14 there is attached by welding or otherwise, a laterally positioned small compression plate 16. Rod 15 has a rear threaded end portion 17 extending a substantial distance beyond the instep end 18 of body 10, and threaded portion 17 passes through an aperture 19 formed in a larger rear c0mpres sion plate 20 lying immediately adjacent instep end 18. Plate 20, as seen in Figure 2, is slightly curved to conform and securely support the resilient body 10.

A rearwardly projecting handle 21 is threaded longitudinally throughout a considerable portion of its length, as indicated at 22, it being apparent that this handle in connection with rod 15 and compression plates 16 and 20 acts as a tightening nut to compress body 10 between plates 16 and 20 respectively. As shown in Figure 3, any compressive action on body 10 tends to deform it into firmer resilient engagement with the interior portions of the shoe. Varying degrees of compressive pressure may be applied by manual manipulation of handle 21.

The first modification of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings might at first glance seem to be identical with that form thereof illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, but there is a difference in that the previously described exteriorly disposed small compression plate 16 is now imbedded in the toe portion of the resilient body 10a, with the plate of this modification being identified as 16a. 'This construction somewhat enhances the appearance of the device and possibly expedites production to some extent, but there is no substantial difference in the actual deforming action of the resilient body 1011. In all other respects, size, shape, etc., the modification of Figures 4 and 5 is the same as the device disclosed in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figures 6 and 7, a second modification of the invention is shown, which is the simplest form of the device. The resilient body 1011 is exactly the the same in all respects as the preferred embodiment and first modification heretofore described, but in this instance no additional mechanical means is provided for compression of the elastic body 1012 within the shoe. A manually graspable pullout 23 is molded with resilient body 10b which is manually forced into the shoe in an elastic pressuresupporting position. The pullout 23 merely provides a simple means for withdrawing the resilient body 10b from a shoe.

Thus, from the above disclosure it will be apparent that the present invention teaches the use of a new and useful shoe tree which is simple in construction, light in weight, and which may be used to support shoes in their proper form by applying pressure through a resilient body member.

Although my invention is fully capable of achieving the results and providing the advantages hereinbefote mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely the presently preferred embodiments thereof, and that I do not means to be limited to the details of construction above described other than as defined in the appended claims.

" I claim:

1. A shoe tree comprising: a resilient body removably disposable within the confines of a shoe forwardly of the instep thereof; and manually operable means for longitudinally compressing said body, said manually operable means including a compression rod extending lengthwise through said resilient body, a first compression plate afiixed to the forward end of said rod, 21 second compression plate movably mounted on said rod near the rearward end thereof and a handle longitudinally movable on the rear end portion of said rod capable of moving said second plate forwardly toward said first plate to compress said body and to transversely expand said body into pressure contact with the portion of said shoe adjacent thereto, and return said portion to substantially the shape said portion had when new and so maintain said portion of said shoe While said body is within the confines of said shoe.

2. A shoe tree capable of being slidably inserted within the confines of a shoe forwardly of the instep portion thereof, comprising: an elastic body; a first plate disposed proximate the forward end of said body; a second plate disposed rearwardly on said body; a rod extending longitudinally through said body, said rod connected at the 4 forward end thereof to said first plate, the rear end portion of said rod being externally threaded; a rotatable handle having a tapped bore therein capable of engaging said threaded end portion of said rod, said threaded end portion being capable of being extended rearwardly through a bore in said second plate to be engaged by said handle, which handle when so engaged and manually rotated in a first direction moves forwardly on said rod and forces said second plate to decrease the distance between said first and second plates and compress that portion of said body situated therebetween to expand said body transversely and force same into pressure contact with the interior surface of said shoe to maintain same in its initial shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,536 Hayden Aug. 18, 1908 927,104 Boyd July 6, 1909 1,525,614 Leahey Feb. 10, 1925 1,725,516 I-Iirshon Aug. 20, 1929 1,853,896 Enrich Apr. 12, 1932 2,041,695 Clark et al. May 26, 1936 2,670,482 Roman Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,419 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1906 742,507 France Dec. 27, 1932 

